HARRISBURG – In seeking to provide greater convenience to customers and generate additional revenue for the Commonwealth, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) today asked his colleagues to support legislation he is sponsoring to allow an alternative to privatization within the state liquor store system.

“Liquor store privatization continues to be one of the major topics of discussion at the Capitol, but no one can seem to agree on what type of private plan would make sense,” said DiGirolamo. “We do not need to blow up the entire state store system in order to give customers what they really want, and that’s why we need an alternative to privatization. My proposal seeks to implement a number of customer-driven changes while also generating additional profits that will benefit both taxpayers and residents alike.”

In a memo to his colleagues, DiGirolamo outlined seven changes to the current system, including modifications to Sunday hours, use of best retail pricing practices and loyalty programs, modular stores, expedited reviews of existing leases, direct shipment of wine and spirits, lottery sales within state stores, and consortium buying power.

He also cited data that these types of changes could generate up to $185 million in additional profit for the state’s General Fund.

“Our current state store system generates quite a bit of profit for the General Fund, and I think it would be poor public policy to sell off that asset for a one-time influx of cash,” DiGirolamo said. “This proposal allows us to keep that revenue while also generating additional savings and sales. I look forward to the feedback from my colleagues and urge them to give this measure serious consideration.”

Additional details about the legislation are available through the co-sponsorship memo, which is available online at www.GeneDiGirolamo.com, and is available here.